Anthony Martial’s time at Manchester United has been up and down since arriving from Monaco in 2015.
After scoring 17 goals in all competitions in his debut season under Louis van Gaal, Martial failed to reach similar heights in his next two years under manager Jose Mourinho.
The Portuguese coach’s tactics and man management haven’t played to Martial’s strengths.
Yet, the Frenchman’s performances have still shown he can perform to a high degree even when he isn’t favoured.
Could Anthony Martial walk away from Old Trafford?
Now, Martial is in the final season of his Manchester United contract and the club seems to be dragging its feet on re-signing the 23-year-old.
Yes, Martial does have a club option for a fifth year, but Manchester United are in a dangerous area in which the winger could leave for free in 2020. Marital makes £75,000-per-week according to Total Sportek.
According to reports, the Frenchman is undecided on whether to sign a new deal.
He is the Red Devils’ top scorer this term with seven goals. If one were to take away Martial’s Premier League strikes, the Red Devils would have just 17 goals scored. It would be the ninth fewest in the Premier League.
Martial has tallied a goal once every 112 minutes. It is a fantastic return and trumps the likes of high priced underperforming teammates Alexis Sanchez, Paul Pogba, and Romelu Lukaku.
Manchester United can build around Anthony Martial
Although Martial wasn’t cheap when he arrived from Monaco, he cost an initial £36 million, it was a great deal for the Red Devils. Had he stayed at Monaco along with Thomas Lemar, Fabinho, Benjamin Mendy and others who won the Ligue 1 title in 2016-17, his value would have easily been double today.
Martial is the Frenchman Manchester United should be building the squad around rather than Pogba.
When Manchester United have needed important goals, Martial has come up with them.
Five of his seven strikes have been scored in the second half of Premier League games. Three of those have been scored between the 46th and 60th minutes.
Teammate Lukaku’s five goals have all come in the first half of games this season. Meanwhile, Lukaku has scored one goal every 201 Premier League minutes.
Pogba, on the other hand, has scored two of his three goals in the opening 30 minutes of matches.
Martial is the one player Mourinho should have first on the team sheet. Unfortunately, Mourinho may not have the luxury of selecting Martial for this weekend’s match against Fulham.
Martial is suffering from a slight knock that forced him off during the Red Devils’ draw with Arsenal. Without the winger, Manchester United are without their most creative player.
It leaves the team open for Fulham to continue to pick up points under new manager Claudio Ranieri.